The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1887-10-28
cept the wild animals, Confound
heir careassesl they gave me d chase,

put i ShOt EN- ar last as they am to
me, until l didn't have any more pow
der. Then | threw my rifle away, an
jes' kept this spealin' tube'-tapping
q large navy revolver, rs he spoke
'in case | was pressed too closely.
WAL, l did hev to use it cact or twice,
an it came in jes' at the right time.
When | struck this river, | thought
I'd follow its banks down till
] came to some village; then I'd be all
right. But soon discovered that the
wild beasts were thicker N flies roun'
its border, an / was jes' maxim pre-.
parations to strike out in the forest
ag'in when I heerd the whistle of your
boat. 1 waded MS near the water as
| could get. Then. ies' as the head
light OF your boat hove in sight,
n OF them tarnal wild cats
began to growl and scratch close to
MY heels.
"She came right atma a-growlin' an
kickin' up the leaves with her feet, an
snappin at me. Then l skunk away,
an caught q hold Of this tree, an
swung up in its branches. The old
critter was a good climber too, an
she was at my heels the next mo-
ment. Then / began to set up a yellin'
to attract your attention, an when
We was right under me / dropped.
That's the story, strangers"
Our visitors account OF his advent
ures was 80 plausible that we all felt
satisfied, and at once he became u free
passenger. While l returned to my
wheel, and started the tug under way
again, II OF the deck hands took him
below to give him something to eat.
The excitement OF the little adventure
soon died out, and in hall all hour l
had almost forgotten that we had
more passengers on board than our
usual number. | watched com.
placently the clouds drifting across
the face of the moon, forming iantas-
tic pictures against the soft light of
the sky. The scene was in harmony
with my feelings, and had duty not
dictated differently l should have
dropped peacefully to sleep.
But long service had made me Sleep
less when the spokes OF the wheel were
in my hand, and unconsciously l kept
my weather eye directed straight
ahead when the p~assage-way became
exceptionally narrow. AS we crossed
one OF the open spaces in the river,
and were approaching the narrow
part OF the stream again, my attention
was attracted by the peculiar actions
OF the tug. Her prov seemed to be
gradually heading towards the right
bank. where a dense growth OF bushes
extended down to the waters
edge. I~nvoluntarily / turned the
wheel in the opposite direc-
ton, and for a moment the boat
seemed endeavoring to obey her rud-
der. She struggled up stream for q
moment, then hesitated, and again
headed toward the shore. With p
desperate jerk l threw the rudder as
far to the right as it could go, deter
mined to make the vessel mind. But
to my surprise, she merely repeated
her former actions, and approached
within two yards OF the bank.
Feeling certain that something was
wrong, | struck the bell sharply for
the engineer to reverse the machinery.
She was checked at once, but not un.
til her prov stuck in the mud near the
bank. thought then l saw a human
form emerge from the bushes, but the
sudden backward movement OF the
tug prevented me from seeing clearly.
By this time | had become anxious
lest something was wrong aboard the
boat. and calling one OF the deck
hands, l told him to examine the
river ahead OF us as we pro-
ceeded. Then, starting up stream
slowly again, ] held the spokes firmly
in my hand, and waited for further
developments. Once more the boat
began to act in the peculiar manner,
turning her prov gradually toward
the right bank. This was exasperat-
ing, and the machinery was again
stopped. Boat hooks were then bust
ly employed, searching in the water
for the obstruction.
"Lend us a hand here" suddenly
cried one OF the men with the hooks,
as he seemed to be tugglng away at
something in the water. The next
moment he pulled up to our view a
heavy cable rope that lay diagonally
across the river. 1t was stretched in
such a manner that a boat coming up
stream would not bcsuddenlv checked
in its Roadway, but would gradually
swing its mead around until it's prov
ran straight into the right bank.
The discovery confirmed my fears
that attempts were being made to
capture the boat, but before I could
give orders to cut the cable. a flash
and q report from the right bank in.
formed us that our lives were in dan
ger. Reversing the engine, we started
the tug toward the left bank, to get
beyond the reach OF bullets, if posi-.
bic. Here concluded to hold a con-
sultatlon with my men, and prepare
for battle. In the shadow of the trees,
on the left bank OF the river, we were
n such darkness that they could not
do much damage with their firearms,
though a stray bullet might pick one
OF us off at any moment. There were
three OF us,all heavily armed, and des.
perate men, accustomed to dodge bull.
let's, and to return a shot for shot.
The stranger would make the fourth,
but OF his courage, however, we were
ignorant. He was still in the cabin
below, sleeping, as we supposed; but
when W. went to rouse him, we found
to u chagrin that he had disappear
ed. l concluded that he was in league
with those on the opposite side OF the
river, and his strange appearance on
the steamer was merely a part OF q
deeply laid scheme.
Come, men," l whispered, eve
must reach that cable again and cut
it, and then steam up the river for
all that we are worth. Do you under
stand?"
They acknowledged their assentwith
a bow, and SAY, ay, captain, we're
with you"
.;But hist; what's that?"
A dark object was moving out ofthe
shadow OF the trees and making it's
noiseless course across the river. 1t
was the head OF a swimmer.
zone moment" l cried.
The flash and report OF my rifle
were followed by a piercing death-cry,
and with a wild leap the object turn
ed over in the water and settled back
in the muddy stream. There was no
needspf explanation; we all under.
stood the meaning OF the affair.
Now down, men, behind the cab
in" + cried. The order was given
non too soon. for the next momenta
number of bullets struck the side OF
the boat. We remained quiet, deter